Air supply device



May 6, 1941. F, J, KURTH 2,240,991

AIR SUPPLY DEVICE" Filed Nov. 23, 1937 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fTGA IVZJ K1497 ATTORNEY y 6, 1941- F. J. KURTH 2,240,991

I AIR SUPPLY DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fieovzJ. fiery ATTO RNEY Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATE AIR SUPPLY DEVICEFranz J. Kurth, New York, N. Y., assignor t Anemostat Corporation ofAmerica, a corporation of Delaware Application November 23, 1937, SerialNo. 176,070

- 8 Claims. This invention relates to the art of ventilation, and hasparticular reference to improve-' ments inair supply and distributingdevices of thetype comprising a plurality of successively larger, hollowflaring members disposed relatively to eachother to provide a pluralityof flaring passageways therebetween, whereby air flowing through thedevice into a room or other enclosure is effectively difiused.'

' Generally speaking, the object of the present.

invention is to provide an air distributing device of the characterstated embodying a construction whereby differences in the flow ,of airthrough different transverse portions or zones of the individualpassageways, and through different transverse portions or zones of thedevice as a whole, are obtained, to the end of providing for mostsuitable diffusion of the air in particular instances, as, for example,where it may be desired to have a greater or a lesser amount of air flowfrom the device in one or more directions than in one or more otherdirections.

More particularly, the object of the invention.

which the supplied air is delivered, directly below and directlyforwardly of the device, a progressively decreasing recirculation flowand mixing of air laterally and upwardly from the medial portion towardthe side portions of the device, primarily a forward and lateral orfanlike outward flow of air from the top portion of the devicehorizontally, and a gradual blending of the respective flows of air witheach other, thus practically to eliminate the possibility of a personstandingbneath, o1 directly forwardly, or in any position relative tothe device, experiencing a sensation of draft.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morefully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in an air distributing device of the character statedembodying the novel panying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

of air flowing forwardly and rearwardly through different portions orzones of the individual pas-.

sageways, transversely thereof as viewed from the front of the device,and through different portions or zones of the device as a whole,transversely thereof as viewed from the front of the connection animportant object of the invention is to provide an air distributingdevice of the character stated, especially for use with a side walloutlet of an air supply conduit disposedat an elevation above theaverage person's head, embodying a construction whereby little or no airflows directly downwardly and forwardly from the device, but, on thecontrary,

there is mainly a recirculation flow of air, and a mixing of'thesupplied air with the air into an air distributing device especiallydesigned for use with a side wall outlet of an air supply conduit andembodying the features of the present invention.

'Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the device shown in Fig. l thesection being taken directly .below the top cover plate of the device.Figure 3 is a. perspective view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 asviewed from the front and to one side thereof.

Figure 4 is a. front elevation of the device; and

Figure 5 is a. perspective view of the device as viewed from the frontand below the same, the angle of view being substantially as indicatedby the arrow designated as V in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the deviceis. of a known general type comprising a plurality of successivelylarger, open-ended hollow flaring members all having their smaller endsfacing the rear or air inlet end of the device and all disposed in axialalinement, or substantially in axial alinement with each other and inspaced apart relationship to provide therebetween a plurality of flarinspassageways for flow of air through the device.

The device, as viewed from its front, may be of circular, elliptical,semi-circular or other 8 for flow of air into the device.

suitable shape, depending upon whether it is to be used with a ceilingor a side wall outlet of an air supply conduit and depending, also, uponparticular conditions encountered and the particular air diffusiondesired in any particular installation. In the present instance thedevice is illustrated as being ofvflat-top semi-circular shape as viewedfrom the front and as embody-' ing a construction especially adapting itfor use with aside wall outlet of an air supply conduit disposed at anelevation above the average persons' head.

While the device may be comprised by difl'erent numbers of flaringmembers, a practical number of such members is live, and this is thenumber of said members illustrated in the present instance. 4 Thesemembers, beginning with the innermost or smaller member and readingoutwardly, are designated as l, 2, 3, 4 and 5, re-- spectively, and, asshown, they are hollow, open so at their ends, axially alinecl, disposedwith their rear or smaller ends facing the rear or air inlet end of thedevice, of progressively increasing flare, respectively, readingoutwardly, and disto the opening 8 and these overlapping portionsprogressively decrease in area toward the bottom of the smaller end ofsaid member which, as aforesaid, is alined, or substantially alined,with the bottom of the opening 9. Accordingly, air is free to'flow fromthe outlet 9 across the lower portion of the smaller end of thepassageway and is not deflected into the bottom portion of saidpassageway; whereas, toward the top of said passageway j at each side ofthe device the portions H of the smaller end of said member 5 interceptand direct air laterally outwardly through said passageway j inprogressively increasing amounts upwardly.

The smaller end of the member 4 bears the same general relationship tothe smaller end of the member 5 as the smaller end of the latter memberbears to the opening 8, with the difference, however, that the lowermostportion of the smaller end of the member 4 is disposed slightly abovethe lowermost portion of the smaller end of themembe'r 5, as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1

\ and 4. As a result, a small amount of the supposed in spaced apartrelationship whereby there are provided between them flaring passagewaysopen at their rear and outer endsand designated as .b, c, d and e,respectively. Behind the larger or outermost flaring member plied air isintercepted by the lowermost portion of the smaller end of the member 4and is deflected into the lowermost portion of the passageway e, thisair flowing only through the forward part of the lowermost-portion ofsaid passage- 5 and spaced rearwardly therefrom is a flat or a sosubstantially flat'plate 6 which is vertically or substantiallyvertically disposed and which cooperates with said larger or outermostflaring -member 5 to provide an outermost flaring passageway-f. On theother hand, at the top of the st device is a cover plate I which ishorizontally or substantially horizontally disposed and closes the topsof the flaring passageways b, c, d, e and f and cooperates with thesmaller or innermost the device there is also both a forward and arearflaring member I to provide an innermost flar 40 ing passageway a.In the plate 6 is an opening Preferably, the forwarduends of the flaringmembers I, 2, 9, 4 and 5 are successively stepped rearwardly, relativeto each other. As a consequence, the device as an entirety and the plateI are of substantially semi-circular shape as viewed in plan.

The device; may have a neck of semi-circular or any other suitablecross-sectional shape extending rearwardly from the plate 6 forconnecting-the device witha side wall outlet 9 of an air supply conduitIO, or the device may be operatively mounted with respect to a side wallReferring now particularly to the rear or smaller ends of the flaringmembers'l, I, I, 4 and 5, it will be observed that the same have awhereby the purposes of the invention are atto Figs. 1 and that thelowermost portion of the smaller end of the member I is disposed insubward flow of air through said passageway and, consequently, a mixingwithin and beyond said passageway of the air flowing forwardlytherethrough and therefrom with the air flowing rearwardly thereto andtherethrough, but; as is apparent, the forward flow of air progressivelyincreases and the rearward flow of air progressively decreases from thebottom of said passageway upwardly at each side thereof due to theprogressively increasing overlappin relationship upwardly to either sideof the device of the smaller end portion of the member 4 with respect tothe smaller end portion of the member 5.

The smaller end of the member 3 bears the same general 'relationship tothe smaller end of I outletsuch as that designated as 9 in any other 5 5suitable manner.

the member 4 as the smaller end of-the latter member-bears to .thesmaller end of the member 5. However, the lowermost portion of thesmaller end of the member 3 is disposed higher above the lowermostportion of the smaller end of the peculiar and novel relationship toeach. other no 7 tained. First, it will be observed byreference .1

stantially the same horizontal planeas thelowermost portion of theopening I in the plate] and that, from its lowermost portion thesaidsmaller end ofsaid member l,'as' it extends up-- words, theupperportions-"of the smaller end of '1 the'member I. as viewed from thefront of'the' vice, are disposedin'overlwm relationship is member ,4than-the lowermost portion of the smaller end of the member 4 isdisposed above the lowermost portion of the smaller end of the member 5.Consequently, while there is both v 5, the proportions of the airflowing forwardly fla'nd rearwardly through the lowermost portion ofsaid passageway d are, respectively,

and lesser as compared with the proportions'of the air flowing forwardlyand rearwardiy I the lowermost portion of the passage- .rway-e. Upwardly3 h m d passageway! toward'either side of the device there-is also botha forward and a flow of air through said passageway and, consequently, amixing within and beyond said passageway of the air flowing forwardlytherethrough and therebeyond with the air flowing rearwardly thereto andtherethrough, but, as is apparent, the forward flow of air progressivelyincreases and the rearward flow of air progressively decreases from thebottom of said passageway upwardly toward each side of the device due tothe progressively increasing overlapping relationship upwardly of thesmaller end of the member 3 with respect to the smaller end of themember 4.

The smaller end of the member 2 bears the same general relationship tothe smaller end of the member 3 as the smaller end of the latter memberbears to the smaller end of the member 4, and the resultant'flow ofthrough the passageway c is generally the sameas in the passageway d,the only essential difference being that the lower portion of thesmaller end of the member 2 is disposed somewhat higher above the lowerportion of the smaller end of the member 3 than the lower portion of thesmaller end of the latter member is disposed above the lower portion ofthe smaller end of the member 4, with the result that, as compared withthe flow of air in the lower portion of the passageway d, the forwardflow of air through the lower portion of the passageway C is somewhatgreater and the rearward flow of air through said passageway is somewhatless. Upwardly from the bottom of the passageway toward either side of,thedevice there is both a rearward and a forward flow of air throughsaid passageways and, consequently, a mixing within and beyond saidpassageway of the air flowing forwardly therethrough and therefrom withthe air flowing rearwardly thereto and therethrough, due to theprogressively increasing overlapping relationship upwardly to eithersideof the device of the smaller end of the member 2 with respect to thesmaller end of the member 3 but, as compared with the forward andrearward flows of air through the sides of .the passageways d, thecorresponding .air flows in the corresponding portions of the passagewayc are greater and lesser, respectively, due to the generally more wideopen nature of the smaller end of the passageway c. The smaller end ofthe member I bears generally the samerelationship to the smaller end ofthe member 2 as the smaller end of the latter member bears to thesmaller end of the member 3, and the resultant flows of air through thepassageway b are therefore generally the same as through the passageway0, except that, proportionately, more air flows forwardly and a lesseramount of air. flows rearwardly through said passageway 1) than throughthe passagewayc. Through the passageway a there is primarily a flow ofair forwardly and laterally and slightly downwardly from the device, dueto the top plate I and to the lack of anything to interfere withdirectflow ofair from the outlet S'through said passageway a. However,due to the flare of the member I, a slight rearward or aspirating flowof air occurs in the passageway a, as indicated by the arrowsin Figs. 1and 5 of thedrawings.

thetop of the device. Also, it will be apparent that, at each side andtoward the top of the device, the air flow is primarily forwardly; that,at each side and toward the aforesaid medial zone of the device, the airflow is primarily rearwardly but not as pronounced as in the said medialzone of the device; that, at each side of the device, the forward flowof air progressively increases and the rearward flow of airprogressively decreases toward the top of the device, and that there isa gradual blending of the various flows with each other as set forth.Accordingly, assuming that the device is associated with a side walloutlet of an air supply conduit located above the average persons head,it is apparent that the device practically eliminates the possibility ofa person standing beneath, or directly forwardly, or to either side ofthe device, or in fact in any position relative thereto, experiencingany sensation of draft. At the same time, the device provides for thesupply of air to accomplish effective ventilation.

The respective member's comprising the device may, of course, be securedin assembly'with each other in any suitable manner. As illustrated inthe present instance they are in part secured in assembly by the topplate i and inpart by a rod l2,

While only a single specific embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it is apparent that the features-comprisingthe invention may readily be embodied in other air diffusing devices ofvarious other specifically difat the rear or air inlet end of the deviceto pro-,

vide therebetween a series of flaring passageways -of substantiallyU-shape in end elevation, and

means closing said passageways at the flat side of the device, saidmembers having the medial portions of their rear edges disposed inwardlyof v "the medial portions of the rear edges of the next is primarilyforwardly at the top of the device,

primarilyrearwardly at'the bottom of the device and gradually'lesserrearwardly and gradually greater forwardly from the bottom towardlarger members, respectively, and at least one of said members havingthe side portions of its rear edge disposed farther inwardly from theside portions of the rear edge of thenext larger member than its medialportion is disposed inwardly of the medial rear edge portion of the saidnext larger member, whereby a lesser amount of supplied air flowsthrough the medial portion than through the side portions of thepassageway between said members.

'2. An air outlet device of substantially U-shapein end elevation havinga flat side and comprising a series of successively smaller, open-ended,hollow, flaring members of substantially U-shape in end elevation andspaced successively inwardly of one another withtheir smaller endsdisposed at the rear or air inlet end of the device'to providetherebetween a series of flaring passageways of substantially U-shape inend elevation, and means closing said passageways at theflat side of thedevice, each'of said members having the medial portion of its rear edgedisposed inwardly of the medial portion of the rear edge of the nextlarger member to deflect supplied air through the medial portions of thepassageways between said members, at least one said members furtherhaving the side portions of its rear edge disposed greater distancesinwardly irom the side portions oi the next larger memberthan .itsmedial rear edge portion is disposed inwardly of the medial rear edgeportion oi the said next larger member so that more supplied air flowsthrough the side portions than through the medial portion of thepassageway between said members, the medial portion of the rearedge ofat least one of said members being disposed a greater distance inwardlyof the medial portion of the larger member;-

3. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 2 in' which the saidinward disposition oi the side portions of the rear edge of the said atleast one of said members progressively decreases toward the medialportion or said'member.

4. An air outlet device as set forth in claim? in which the saidinwarddisposition oi the medial portion of the rear edge of the said at leastone of said members'progressively increases toward the side portions ofthe rear edge of said .-member.

- 5. An air outlet device as set forth in em 2 in which the medialportions of the-rear edges of the successively smaller members aredisposed progressively greater distances inwardly oithe medialportionsoi the rear edges of the next larger members, respectively.

6. An air outlet device as set forth in claim 2 in which the sideportions of the rear edges of the successively smaller members are.disposed progressively greater distances inwardly or themembersirespeetively. r

. 7. An airoutlet device of substantially U-shape in end elevationhaving aflat side and comprishollow, flaring m ie oi substantiallyU-shape in end elevation an spaced successively inwardiy of one anotherwith their smaller ends disposed at the rear or air inlet end oi'thedevice to ing a series of vely smaller, open-ended,

next larger member than the medi'alportion oi the rear edge or a largerof said members is .disposed inwardly oi the rear edge 01' the nextprovide therebetween a series oi. flaring passageways of substantially,U-shape in end elevation, and means closing said passageways at theflat -side oi the device, a rearmost member spaced rearwardly from thelargest flaring memberto provide therebetween 'a rearmost flaringpassageway, said rearmost member having an opening for the admission ofsupplied air to the device, the medial portion oi the rear edge. of thelargest flaring member-,beingdisposed at least as far outwardly as thecorresponding portion of the opening in said rearmost member, wherebysupplied air is permitted to flow across'the mouth of the medial portionof the rearmost passageway and to produce aspiration in the said medialportion of saidrearmost passageway, the side portions of said largestflaring member being disposed inwardly oi the side portions of saidopening whereby supplied air is deflected through the side portions ofsaid rearmost passageway.

8. An air diiiusing device of substantially semicircular'shape in frontelevation having a sub-' stantially flat side and comprising a seriesoi'successively smaller, hollow, flaring-members of substantiallysemi-circular shape in front elevation spaced successively inwardly ofone another to provide a plurality of flaring passageways 1therebetween, a plate cooperating with said memmembers to either side ofthe central, vertical j 4" side portions oi the rear edges oi the nextlai er bers to close said passageways at the flat side of the device,the smaller ends oi said members being disposed rearwardly relative tothe device and the rear edge portions 01' at least one of said edgeportions directly therebehind of the next adjacent outwardly disposedmember progreuive- 1y decreasing toward the central, vertical plane ofthe device.

' FRANZ J. KUR'I'H.

y disposed member, into f I

